DPR To Arrest Illegal Surface Tanks Operators In A’Ibom

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has threatened to close down all filling stations in Akwa Ibom State dispensing kerosene from surface tanks.

 The DPR Controller in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, Mr Bassey Nkanga, made the threat in an interview with The Tide source in Uyo on Sunday.

 Nkanga said that the decision was necessitated by the recent kerosene explosion which led to the death of two children and one woman in Ikono Ibm area of Uyo.

 He said that the department had a meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to review the ugly incident that occurred last week.

 ”All those selling the product from surface tanks that are not licensed will not be allowed to operate.

 ”We are going to work with security agencies to ensure that petroleum products are not adulterated in the state.

 ”IPMAN has agreed to work with DPR to ensure that only those surface tanks with DPR licences operate because those with licences will not source product from illegal refineries,” Nkanga said.

 He added that IPMAN in the state had agreed not to sell kerosene to minors.

According to him, some children do not know exactly which product they want to buy when they get to filling stations.

 He warned consumers to always put off their lamps and stoves and allow them to cool whenever they wanted to pour more kerosene into them.

 Recall that one Mr Nsikak Michael in Uyo lost two children last week due to an explosion that occurred while he was about poring kerosene into a lit lamp.